This week, joining a political party (of sorts) and friendships grow on trees, on both sides of the city.

Sloans, Referendum Live!

Irrespective of political party, last night, drinking parties were hosted, across the country, to mark the night of the Referendum. In Glasgow, some bars pinned their colours to the wall early on, like Vespbar renaming itself 'Yesbar', whilst others preferred to remain impartial; a punter's a punter after all. Yay or nay?

Sloans, Glasgow's oldest bar and restaurant, first opened it's doors during the same century that Scotland and England became united, so, in a nod to the pub's history, they decided to try and forecast the decision the old fashioned way: by cock-fighting. Yes, this was certainly a political party with a difference!

In the 1700s, you could regularly have a beak at cock-fighting in the Sloan's courtyard. With this in mind, Charlie the Rooster was drafted in to flex his political muscle and peck a side. Ok, so it wasn't quite fighting, more like a chicken dinner. Two bowls of food were labeled 'Aye' and 'Naw', so rather than voting with his heart or head, he went with gut instinct and…went for both! Charlie wasn't going to count his chickens before they'd hatched!

Straight from Sloans, I scooted across town to The Glad Cafe to report, as the results came in, for The One Show. Like Charlie, just call me a party political animal!

Botanics Tree Hub

Glasgow is the ideal place to put down roots, thanks to it's many green spaces. Our home has several outdoor 'living' rooms, the best of which are, perhaps, the Botanic Gardens. The gardens have a huge array of different flowers and plants, both within the glasshouses (mind not to throw stones!) and throughout it's spacious grounds. But, we shouldn't let the floral displays put the trees in the shade.

I don't need to go out on much of a limb to say, I'm a bit of a tree-hugger. They help breathe life into our gardens and the city itself, and the Botanics are home to a fascinating mix of rare and unusual boughs. It's one of the reasons that, this week I helped to launch a new campaign to create a specialist Tree Hub. Some of the trees have histories that run rings around the others, having originally been sent to the gardens by intrepid Scottish explorers from far-flung places.

The campaign itself is an olive branch, to ask locals to help support - and raise £100,000 - for the Hub, which will include some of these stories, information points, and a large leafy sculpture at it's heart. Hopefully, Glasgow will donate in spades!

Shettleston Growing Project

It's actually been quite a green week. Along with planting my support behind the Botanics Tree Hub, I also had the chance to visit the Shettleston Growing Project. It's a fantastic wee initiative in the East End of the city, set up to help locals grown their own fruit and veg. With help from funding and fundraising they've turned a derelict site into 70 odd allotments, poly-tunnels, a potting shed and a beautiful community garden. They even grow their own grapes! Glasgow grapes! Whatever next, Cabernet Shettleston!

It's not just the adults who have unearthed the benefits of growing your own food, though, the kids are involved too, in the brilliantly named Smelly Welly Club. I met a number of the green-fingered youngsters and the extent of their knowledge (and their strawberries!) were top notch!

Young and old, the experience (and tastiness) of growing their own food has clearly had a huge impact. It saves money, they're respectful of the environment and, what's more, it proves that friendships can grow on trees!

Wee Bird Recommends

Looking for a wheely good Sunday? Wee have just the thing! This weekend Danny MacAskill comes to Glasgow with his jaw-dropping, mind-boggling, saddle-smacking Drop and Roll show at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome. All kick-pedalled off by the Fresh and Lo 6 mile family bike ride…tickets are still available online.